That Military Rag 1912

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 20 Oct 2006
2006

Bill Williams was a sargeant
in a colored regiment,
he joined the Union Army
just to keep from paying rent.
He loved that ragtime music
and the dear old Yankee flag,
the good old Spangled Banner
was Williams' fav'rite rag.
When Bill passed by in suit of blue,
folks laughed to beat the band,
because Bill's feet would not behave
when he gave this command:

Tramp, Tramp,
there they come,
Boom, Boom,
hear that drum,
ain't that some brigade;
Left, right,
look at that line,
some class,
Gee! They look fine,
Marchin' on parade.
Lord man,
now they are dancin'
Dog gone!
how they are prancin'
Don't you be afraid
the Blue and Grey
won't fight any more,
they shook hands in "Sixty Four"
and ever since then
they dance and play
that Military Rag.

Tramp, Tramp,
there they come,
Boom, Boom,
hear that drum,
ain't that some brigade;
Left, right,
look at that line,
some class,
Gee! They look fine,
Marchin' on parade.
Lord man,
now they are dancin'
Dog gone!
how they are prancin'
Don't you be afraid
the Blue and Grey
won't fight any more,
they shook hands in "Sixty Four"
and ever since then
they dance and play
that Military Rag.

Bill Williams soon deserted
and put on a suit of grey,
he couldn't stand the blueness
'cause he liked things bright and gay;
Besides that band played "Dixie"
in that syncopated time,
and Bill yelled: "Lead me to it,
the Sunny South for mine."
They handed Bill the col'nel's job
the last day of the war,
and as the band ragged "Home Sweet Home"
Bill shouted out once more:

Tramp, Tramp,
there they come,
Boom, Boom,
hear that drum,
ain't that some brigade;
Left, right,
look at that line,
some class,
Gee! They look fine,
Marchin' on parade.
Lord man,
now they are dancin'
Dog gone!
how they are prancin'
Don't you be afraid
the Blue and Grey
won't fight any more,
they shook hands in "Sixty Four"
and ever since then
they dance and play
that Military Rag.

Tramp, Tramp,
there they come,
Boom, Boom,
hear that drum,
ain't that some brigade;
Left, right,
look at that line,
some class,
Gee! They look fine,
Marchin' on parade.
Lord man,
now they are dancin'
Dog gone!
how they are prancin'
Don't you be afraid
the Blue and Grey
won't fight any more,
they shook hands in "Sixty Four"
and ever since then
they dance and play
that Military Rag.

Soft karaoke
Words
piano
piano
piano
piano
*
That Military Rag 1912
Music by J.E.Andino
Lyrics by Schuyler Greene
© MCMXII by Musicians Pub.Co. N.Y.
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Friday 20 October 2006 at 9.25pm
in association with Doug Grierson
*